Car-starter



(No Model.)

J. A. LANE 8v J. M. THORP.

- GAR STARTER.

No. 329,319. Patented Oct. .27, 1885.

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JOHN A. LANE AND JAMES M. THORP, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAR-STARTE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,319, dated October 27, 1885.

Application filed April 17. 1855.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN A. LANE and JAMES M. THORP, citizens of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gar-Starters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in car-starters in which the power of the horse is temporarily applied to give a rotary impulse directly to the wheel, so as to partly revolve the wheel, and then transfer the power to the usual conditions for draft purposes. WVe attain this result by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side view, Fig. 2 atop view, and Fig. 3 a detailed perspective of the lever I.

Similar parts are represented by similar letters in the different figures.

A B represent a part of the carfloor extending back over the wheels, one of which wheels is represented by S S. Under the forward end of the car, by suitable hangers, we attach the draw-bar H H, adapted to move freely forward and backward until such motion is stopped by the stops 9 or is striking against the hanger T. Between the rear end of the draw-bar, when completely back, and the axle of the wheel we hang a block having two sectors of circles, a b, turning upon a common axis, X. Of these sectors a is concentric with the axis upon which it turns, while b may have either a spiral periphery or may have a circular periphery with its center eccentric to that of the axis. In either case the two form a differential sector-pulley, by the use of which we are enabled to transfer the draft gradually and without shock from its action in giving a rotary motion to the wheel to its ordinary conditions for draft purposes. Upon the axle O of the wheel we fix the ratchetwheel D, and mount loosely a sleeve carrying a double sector-wheel, E and F, having the sectors opposite to one another. The upper sector, E, carries a pawl adaptedto engage in the teeth of the ratchet-wheel D. These sectors may have their periphery concentric with the axle or may be spiral or eccentric thereto, if it is desired.

Serial No. 162,537. (No model.)

R represents the ordinary brake-handle with its ratchet and paw], from which, in addition to the ordinary brake-chain, (which is not shown,) we pass a chain to the compound lever I K, hung from the bottom'of the car at the two points (I t. The part I is angled, and has a slot in one of its arms. This slotted arm of the part I rests upon the upper side of the lever K, and embraces in the slot a pin projecting from K. The other arm of the angle part I is hooked and adapted to catch behind a lug, 9, upon the draw-bar when the compound leverI K is drawn backward around the two pins d t. From the free end of the lever K a chain passes directly to the rear of the sectorF upon the axle. From the rear of the draw-bar H H a chain passes to the differential sector-pulley G, passing around to the rear or lower part of the regular portion a. Another chain, attached to the upper and forward portion of the part b of the same block, passes to and around to the rear of the sector E upon the axle of the wheel. The forward motion of the draw-bar, acting through the chains and over the variable differential sector-block Gthrough the sector E, pawl p, and ratchet-wheel D, rotates the wheel S S upon its axis until in the course of its revolution the pawl p is brought against the lug h, attached to the car-bottom. At the same time the chain, passing from the sector F to the free end of the lever K, draws back that end of the lever K and the slotted end of the lever I, and brings the hook l behind and into engagement with the stop 9 upon the draw-bar, and the usual draft conditions are established. On applying the brakes these motions are reversed and the mechanism set to again start the car.

By the use of the variable differential sector-block G we accomplish two resu1ts-first, we are enabled to increase the leverage, and consequently the power applied to rotate the wheel S S, to any desired amount, and, second, as the power begins to be effective the difference in the gearing becomes less, thus bringing the draft gradually and not suddenly into the usual conditions for moving the car upon the track.

Having thus described our invention and its mode of operation, what we claim as new, and

desire to have secured to us by Letters Patent, mounted upon the loose wheel and adapted to isengagein the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and 15 1. In acar-starter, a movable'draw-bar, vaa hook or lug on the car-bottom for disengagriable differential pulley, loose wheel carrying the pawl from the ratchet-Wheel and hold- 5 ing a pawl, ratchet-wheel fixed upon the caring thesame out of engagement While the usual axle, and the compound lever 1K, adapted to draft conditions continue, all arranged as debe drawn behind the projecting lug upon the scribed.

movable draw-bar and the chain belting for transmitting motion from one part to another, 10 arranged substantially as and for the purposes described. Witnesses:

2. The loose Wheel mounted upon the car- R. A. PARKER, axle, ratchet-Wheel fixed to the axle, the pawl O. F. BURTON. 

